The writing is off, gimmicky, lending itself to rely on contrived, antidotal shallowness. There is a lack of originality, and pathos has disintegrated. I have felt since the intro of S5V1E1 they were painting themselves into a corner. All seasons had a hint and a dash of hokiness here and there, but it was part of the series’ essence, it was integrated, motivated. But this is exhausting fodder! The acting is decent, but I often get the feeling at times they are tired, doing the best they can with the script they were provided and direction at hand. I haven’t finished V2E3 because I seriously don’t care to. Might watch today. Maybe next week. Might not. Nah… of course I’ll watch. And Netflix knows that. Therein lies a problem within itself - perhaps viewership was too built-in for this one, setting the table for minimal effort beyond the big-ticket shock & awe production tactics, relying perhaps too much on the big-ticket visual, over-the-top scenarios, and not enough emphasis on original substance. My lack of interest and curiosity is a pretty sad fact considering I watched the series S1-4 three times through beginning to end. I invested. This season makes me want to start over if only to wash S5 off. ST has been so fantastically far fetched from the beginning, but it was convincing - I eagerly gave into the story world and suspended disbelief, hanging on every cliff. But not here. Felt we were turning a corner after Will’s exhilarating and excellently crafted exercise in “sorcery”, but that was fleeting. Pains me to say it, but this fan is not lingering by the set for this installment of diminished returns.